Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Nov 19, 2014 17:08:18 GMT -5
My mom had them. She was in a bit of pain from it and they had her on the anti viral to stop it and heal faster. You should Google to see what foods to avoid... there's an amino acid or something found in chocolate and other foods that the virus needs to replicate. I know it's lysine that fights it, the bad one is a something. Nothing about foods to avoid by either my doctor, or the Mayo or Web MD websites.
DO.NOT.TAKE.AWAY.MY.CHOCOLATE. It's my anti-depressant medication.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 17:12:07 GMT -5
I keep saying I want to get the vaccine. Im not sure if there is an age for it though. My grandmother, uncle, aunt and brother have all had them. I know my aunt had them on her head and she was absolutely miserable and they lasted several months. My brother ended up in the ER because of the pain although his cleared up fairly quickly...he was in his 30s. Ive heard enough about it to get motivated to get the shot....I just need to do it. Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Nov 19, 2014 17:12:09 GMT -5
I had a mild case of shingles on the side of my torso when I was 47. Work stress most likely. Got the shingles shot at 60.
A friend of mine had a severe case of shingles on her lungs after treatment for cancer.
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haapai
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Post by haapai on Nov 19, 2014 17:12:58 GMT -5
I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is that in my tribe, that's what it means.
It's a pretty condition in anyone who gets run down. Stress can do it. Aging helps. Not getting chicken pox as a kid or having a very mild case helps. It's common as dirt among folks who are doing chemo. If you stress a person's immune system, shingles is a pretty common result.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 17:16:06 GMT -5
I wonder if it has something to do with chicken pox... whether you've gotten the pox itself or the vaccine, it might provide some immunity for younger people that starts to wear off in your 40s. <<waits for Mich>> It does. If you have had chicken pox, the virus stays in your nerve endings and it can be reactivated. This happens due to a combination of things. At 50ish, your immune system starts waning and it is no longer being kept in check. In addition, stress (which can also have an impact on your immune system) can be added to the game.
If you got the chicken pox vaccine as a child, you won't get shingles because you don't have the virus in your body in the first place as it never got a chance to move to your nerve endings.
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Ombud
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Shingles!
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Post by Ombud on Nov 19, 2014 17:20:11 GMT -5
According to the screening test that I had, I never had chicken pox so why did the MD want me to get the vaccine?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 17:24:55 GMT -5
I'm definitely grateful that my case is so mild. It's very interesting to hear how many folks got it when they were much, much younger than I am. It makes me wonder why they recommend getting the shot when you're 60. I asked my Dr. about getting the vaccine (since I'm somewhat immune compromised) and she said I should wait until I'm at least 55. IIRC (and I'm not sure I do) it had something to do with the medical profession not being entirely sure how long the shingles vaccine provides protection. If you get it too young, you may not be protected in your 80's or 90's when you need protection the most. I too would love it if The Walk of the Penguin Mich would jump in. It likely provides protection just like any other vaccine.
What happens is that you get another dose of an inactive virus, which stimulates your immune system to make antibody. When you got the disease decades ago, this is what your body did naturally, while you were broken out in spots. What the vaccine does is just boost that response. Because those of us who have had chicken pox had an immune response (normally), then getting the vaccine for shingles merely reawakens your immune cells. Immune theory is such that after you have disease, your body maintains imprinted immune cells so that when you see the virus or bug again, it shouldn't take your body so long to respond to disease.
Normally, there is a process of developing an immune response that is fairly well set. Certain types of antibodies show up at certain times, for certain purposes. So normally, it can take up to a couple weeks to develop a full blown immune response at your immune system's first view of the virus. By then, you are in the middle of full blown disease. For revaccination against shingles, if your body sees it again, your immune cells are now primed and should produce faster - in a couple days.
Do you all realize that I was taking a quick break from trying to complete my final project in CAD and are dragging me back to my old life That was so much easier!!
BTW.....I would go to my doctor and ask again, especially if your are somewhat immune compromised. If you need another vaccination in 20 years, then you just get another one in 20 years. I don't see what the big deal is, you can still be protected. Actually, it probably does make more sense to get revaccinated in your 40s, and then later in your 60s than the way they do it now.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 17:27:08 GMT -5
According to the screening test that I had, I never had chicken pox so why did the MD want me to get the vaccine? They must have done titers and your blood did not show that you had a past exposure. So if you did have chicken pox, you may have had a very mild case that didn't elicit much of a response. If you did not have chicken pox, you need to get your tail to the doctor and get that vaccine.
We had a postdoc in our lab that caught chicken pox from her nephew. Chicken pox in adults is a BIG DEAL. Post doc was in ICU for 3 weeks, and spent another 2 weeks in a regular room before they sprung her. She was one sick cookie.
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Ombud
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Shingles!
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Post by Ombud on Nov 19, 2014 17:28:41 GMT -5
I had the shingles vaccine then I got sick. not making light of shingles, I know it's a horrible thing. My mom got it
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 17:30:22 GMT -5
And as a PSA....
If you get any explained severe pain, you really do want to get to the doctor ASAP. My dad's wife had this, and if you get to the doctors and get on antivirals very early in the process, you can avoid going through the whole mess of shingles - or it blunts the symptoms severely.
The way she described it was that it was VERY painful to touch an area of her skin (for her, it was under her arm on her ribs). Even clothing made her yelp in pain.
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justme
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Post by justme on Nov 19, 2014 17:44:45 GMT -5
My mom had them. She was in a bit of pain from it and they had her on the anti viral to stop it and heal faster. You should Google to see what foods to avoid... there's an amino acid or something found in chocolate and other foods that the virus needs to replicate. I know it's lysine that fights it, the bad one is a something. Nothing about foods to avoid by either my doctor, or the Mayo or Web MD websites.
DO.NOT.TAKE.AWAY.MY.CHOCOLATE. It's my anti-depressant medication.
Lol! Ok, ok! It is more on the health website that you have to take with a grain of salt. It's been a while since I was researching all this stuff when I kept having mono and they're all in the same virus family. Now, go have some chocolate.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Nov 19, 2014 18:04:43 GMT -5
I raced in right away to get the shot. I would have paid anything for it. Compared to now, it was expensive. I had to convince them to give me the shot because I wasn't old enough. When I told them about the exposure level I knew of, they gave it to me.
A friend told the story of how bad it was and how much pain med she had to take. Another friend is still suffering from lingering pain after 3 years.
I'm sorry you got this. I don't know if it recurs or not.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Nov 19, 2014 18:12:25 GMT -5
I keep saying I want to get the vaccine. Im not sure if there is an age for it though. My grandmother, uncle, aunt and brother have all had them. I know my aunt had them on her head and she was absolutely miserable and they lasted several months. My brother ended up in the ER because of the pain although his cleared up fairly quickly...he was in his 30s. Ive heard enough about it to get motivated to get the shot....I just need to do it. Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
I asked the pharmacy if I could get it (at 40) and just pay for it myself, and they said no. I'm not sure why, though.
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Ombud
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Shingles!
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Post by Ombud on Nov 19, 2014 18:16:01 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver, ask your MD. If you have an HMO, it might be free. Mine was
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Nov 19, 2014 18:20:04 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver, ask your MD. If you have an HMO, it might be free. Mine was I do need to remember to ask her why the age policy is in place. If it's a lack-of-protection-in-old-age issue, I guess it's a good thing. Sigh...
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on Nov 19, 2014 18:22:14 GMT -5
Believe me, the vaccine is something you WANT to do! I've only had it once but it picked a particularly lousy spot to focus on. It attacked the nerve that runs from the middle of my right buttock down and around my groin. I was out of work for two weeks because I couldn't walk! Horrible barely describes it.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Nov 19, 2014 18:47:38 GMT -5
I keep saying I want to get the vaccine. Im not sure if there is an age for it though. My grandmother, uncle, aunt and brother have all had them. I know my aunt had them on her head and she was absolutely miserable and they lasted several months. My brother ended up in the ER because of the pain although his cleared up fairly quickly...he was in his 30s. Ive heard enough about it to get motivated to get the shot....I just need to do it. Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
Do you recall what the cost was? Not sure whether my Kaiser plan will cover the shingles cost. I'll have my MD write a script so at least I can write it off on my taxes.
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Nov 19, 2014 19:05:52 GMT -5
I got shingles for Christmas when I was 40. It started out as an irritation on my back at my bra line. So I threw away the uncomfortable bra.
I was mad busy at the bakery and I had two young kids at home. On Christmas Eve, I finally realized that there was something really wrong on my back. I was able to see a doctor who was covering for mine around 4pm. She diagnosed the shingles and offered me pain meds and antiviral meds. I was sure I could handle the pain, I have a pretty high tolerance.
Hours later, I would like to have died of the pain. I didn't want to go to the ER so it was the day after Christmas before I got any relief.
By the time it was over a couple of weeks later, it spread around my body, back to front from my armpit to my hip. I couldn't wear clothes in New England in January! I was wearing a sundress and socks because it was all I could tolerate.
I followed it up by getting a raging case of bronchitis two weeks later that lingered for a long time.
I've been very careful not to let myself get that run down ever again.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2014 19:16:07 GMT -5
I got them at 39 when I made a job change. My best Friend got them several years later when she made a job change. Can't be a coincidence! Anyhow, it was the worst pain I EVER experienced, and the after-effects lasted a good ten years. This was well before the shingles shot was available.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2014 19:23:19 GMT -5
I got shingles for Christmas when I was 40. It started out as an irritation on my back at my bra line. So I threw away the uncomfortable bra. I was mad busy at the bakery and I had two young kids at home. On Christmas Eve, I finally realized that there was something really wrong on my back. I was able to see a doctor who was covering for mine around 4pm. She diagnosed the shingles and offered me pain meds and antiviral meds. I was sure I could handle the pain, I have a pretty high tolerance. Hours later, I would like to have died of the pain. I didn't want to go to the ER so it was the day after Christmas before I got any relief. By the time it was over a couple of weeks later, it spread around my body, back to front from my armpit to my hip. I couldn't wear clothes in New England in January! I was wearing a sundress and socks because it was all I could tolerate. I followed it up by getting a raging case of bronchitis two weeks later that lingered for a long time. I've been very careful not to let myself get that run down ever again. I can relate to everything you said. I was that bad off, too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2014 19:38:56 GMT -5
A man told he had been shot in WWII, but the shingles he had later were worse.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Nov 19, 2014 19:57:33 GMT -5
I got the shingles vaccine earlier this year after my doctor recommended I get it. We had a neighbor get shingles on his face and he didn't go to the doctor. His eye got infected from it and he almost lost his eye. He was in so much pain, I can't imagine how he dealt with it.
I hope I never get it!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Nov 19, 2014 20:34:04 GMT -5
Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
Do you recall what the cost was? Not sure whether my Kaiser plan will cover the shingles cost. I'll have my MD write a script so at least I can write it off on my taxes. I want to say nearly $200. I think that this was in 2010 or so. I should have asked yesterday while I was waiting for a prescription.....
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Nov 19, 2014 21:37:49 GMT -5
Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
Do you recall what the cost was? Not sure whether my Kaiser plan will cover the shingles cost. I'll have my MD write a script so at least I can write it off on my taxes. Ask your doctor to be sure. I have Kaiser and got the shot for free. And while I am older than you are, the fact that you already have had an attack may qualify you for a freebie too.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Nov 19, 2014 21:46:10 GMT -5
My sister had shingles when we were kids. Two years ago, she got them just before Christmas and she got a bad case of them. She was very stressed at work as an adult. I don't think anybody ever figured out why she got them as a kid.
I got them 5 years ago during tax season. It started as a weird rash where my slacks sit on my waist. I couldn't figure out why it went from my belly button around to my spine. I said something at work and a co-worker told to get to the doctor. He gave me some topical ointment and a scrip for pain that I didn't need to fill. Then I got the shingles vaccine. I was one of the lucky ones who had a reaction to the vaccine. I had a burning lump the size of a baseball at the injection site. Then I got antibiotics. However, this was better than the itching of shingles.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 19, 2014 22:33:44 GMT -5
Depends on whether or not you want insurance to pay for it. When I went to Costco yesterday, they were offering the vaccine for anyone born before 1964, so it sounds like 50 is the cut off and from what I remember, I think that they moved it. Otherwise, it runs about $200.
I checked on this a couple years ago for me, my insurance wouldn't cover it until I was 56, and I was about 5 years off. I was getting ready to start my practicum, and had no proof that I had chicken pox so I got immunized against that. The pharmacist thinks I should be good.
I asked the pharmacy if I could get it (at 40) and just pay for it myself, and they said no. I'm not sure why, though. I have a local blue cross blue shield plan. It covers shingles for 40 and up. My primary care doctor billed for shingles instead of chicken pox and it got denied due to me being under 40. I did verify I got the correct vaccine. It was $225-250 at a doctor's office for shingles.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2014 8:11:25 GMT -5
I knew enough people who had shingles to know I didn't want it. So when I was 52 or so, there was a trial for people ages 50-60 to see if the shingles shot was effective for this age group. I signed up for the trial since the shot had already been tested for side effects, etc.
A few years later I found out that I did get the vaccine. (I could have been the control group.) Now I wonder since I am over 60, if I need to get it again.
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michelyn8
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Post by michelyn8 on Nov 20, 2014 8:36:05 GMT -5
My mom had them. She was in a bit of pain from it and they had her on the anti viral to stop it and heal faster. You should Google to see what foods to avoid... there's an amino acid or something found in chocolate and other foods that the virus needs to replicate. I know it's lysine that fights it, the bad one is a something. I read that chocolate can make cold sores worse and that Lysine helps them. I found a cheap lysine based cold sore med the next time I broke out and its worked wonders every since. I even tried supplements for a while but then read they could affect cholesterol levels I think it is and stopped because my next biometrics screening tested higher than before. I'd have to dig up the research again but since I split with my last boyfriend 18 months ago, I've had fewer issues with cold sores.............mine are definately triggered by stress and that relationship kept me stressed out the last six months we were together. Sorry you're going through this Bonny. From what I understand, if you've had chicken pox, you're pretty much destined to have shingles at some point. So I guess most of us who came up in the 60's and 70's are screwed.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 20, 2014 9:52:34 GMT -5
I got shingles when my youngest was 6 months old (other kids were 2 and 3!) and I was just back at work. I was 31 years old. Started on the back of my neck and went around to one side of my face. I started on anti-virals and it stopped it from getting any worse. If was still very painful.
When I took my baby for his checkup I asked pediatrician about it and he said the the baby was too young to catch chicken pox because he should have immunity for 6-12 months from his mother. 2 weeks later he had chicken pox (very mild and he was too young to scratch). 2 weeks later the other 2 got it. 2 months later the chicken pox vaccine came out! It was made by the company I worked for so I kept hearing about it, but never did us any good.
My middle child actually had shingles when he was about 10 years old on his back. I recognized it because it starts on a nerve (his spine) and goes out on 1 side. I called the pediatrician (same one) and told him I thought he had shingles and he said that was not possible. Took him into the office next day and sure enough he had them (he apologized and said it was very rare).
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the shingles vaccine.
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quince
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Post by quince on Nov 20, 2014 13:49:57 GMT -5
I had shingles when my husband (then BF) was across the country on an internship. I was sleeping 2-4 hours a night and very stressed by work and his absence. I also got abnormal pap result around this time: I'm not great at dealing with stress.
It was weird- numb area about two inches high from my spine wrapped around one side of my body. I poked at it a bunch because numb=weird. Then the rash. Luckily, it was very mild but kind of freaky. I should really get the vaccine.
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